Improvement in draining and pipe-laying machines



I. C. PRATT.

lMole-Plow.

l No. 26,708

N/ bw my www@ f wam@ @W @www 4NJIERS. PHOTO-UTHOGRWHER. WASHINGTON, u` CA 'UNITED i. STATES IRA d'PRATr, 0F MORTON', ILLINOIS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 26,708, dated January 3, 1860.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, I. C. PRATT, of Morton, in the county of Tazewell and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ditching and Pipe-Laying Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and clear description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is the construction of a'machine by means of which an underground drain may be made and a lead or other flexible pipe laid therein in one combined operation; and the nature of my invention relates, first, to the mode of constructing the mole-point so that it may he secured to the proper mole or device for perforating the ground; second, to a mode of securing the lmole-point to an adjustable cutting-shaft; third, to the employment of a screw or its equivalent in effect for securing the pipe in such manner that said pipe may be properly drawn within the perforation; and, fourth, the employment of a rotary cutter arranged at the bottom of the mole or other perforating device, as hereinafter specified and represented.

In reference to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a vertical sectional elevation, of my improved ditching and pipe-laying machine. Fig. 3 is a perspective view ot' a mole or perforating device provided with a rotary cutter. Fig. 4 is an end orV rear view of said mole. Fig. 5 is a top view of the device which I prefer forjcon-` ducting the pipe under ground. Fig. 6 is a sectional view, showing the mode of securing the mole or perforatiug device to the molepoint.

A represents the beamof the machine, provided near its forward end with 'two rollers, F, and at its rear end with a roller, E, and also near its center with a rotating cutter, G, by means of which the surface of the ground may be cut or slit for the entranceof the cutting-shaft D. `The said shaft D is made to pass through the beam A in front of the friction-roller D', thence upward through the bar b, to which it may be secured by means of a pin, d. The said shaft D is adjustable vertically by means of the lever C, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1, in such manner that the foot` of the cutter or shaft D and mole-point Hmay be adjusted at any desired depth in the ground. The mole-point H is constructed with j a i screw-rod, r, which is provided with a nut, J, by means of which a mole of any desired size` or form may be securelyattached tothe mole.-

point, as is ,clearly represented in'Figs. 2and 6. The foot of the shaft D` is made to pass loosely through the mole-point H in such Inan-` ner asv to form a pivot upon which the point H may turn freely, by means of which the `-r making of curves or deviations from a straight` line is facilitated. The mole I is made with a shank, K, and flange k. In said flange k is a slot, k', which is adapted to receive the screww l, by means of which the pipe L may be se` cured in such manner as to be drawn within the ground, as fully shown in Fig. 2. (u shown clearly in Fig..6) is a rotary cutter arranged at the bottom of the mole P,by means of which a slit may be cut in the bottom' of the drain to allow the passage of water. The said cutter may be used with the mole I with the same facility as with the mole P.-

M is a reel, upon which pipe may be woun to facilitate the operation of laying the same.

Having described the construction of my in vention, its operation may be briefly de-l scribed as follows: A proper excavation being made in the ground to receive themole I,` the shaft D will be adjusted, as before defy sribed, in such manner thatthe pipe may be laid at the proper distance below the surface4 of the ground. The screw l will then be inserted firmly within the said pipe. The screw i will then be adj usted in the slot k of the flange 7c, as shown in Figs.l and 2. `'Ihe machine will then be moved forward by means of a capstan or other suitable device until any de-` sired length of pipe has been drawn withini the ground.

I do not claim anything for theform of the perforating device, as I am aware that Inoles of various forms have been used for the pur-z pose of making subterranean drains; but,

Having described the construction and op-.w

eration of myinvention, what I claim as my intion-with the mole I K lc k', for securing the vention, and desire to secure by Letters Paitpipe in such manner that it may be drawn entriswithin the perforation made by the mole I,

1. Pivoting the mole-point'I on the adjustasubstantially as described.

ble cutter D, for allowing lateral motion in IRA C. PRATT. said point, and the mole attached thereto,sub Witnesses: stantially as described. JAMES DELANE, i

2. The screw Z, or its equivalent, in combina- JOSEPH B.I BABCOCK. 

